Quirky, even wacky identities are the hallmark of several carriers that pay good money for this branding. Let’s look at three airline images then answer this question: When it comes to choosing whom to fly with, do passengers really give a [rabid badger, per Virgin America] about image?

You have to wonder whether JetBlue’s catchphrase, “we’ll throw in a little thing called humanity” isn’t a not-so-veiled dig at that meanie, Spirit. Florida-based discounter Spirit revels in an endless stream of nasty or snarky website ads targeting politicians (the former governor of Illinois’ conviction was marked by screaming headlines announcing a “Slammer Sale!”); athletes (an allegedly enhanced Yankee was tweaked in the “Improve Your Travel Performance” sale); and don’t forget that Secret Service prostitution scandal (“More Bang for Your Buck”).